Airship



May 29, 1928.

J. E. WHITTLESEY AIRSHIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1927 May 29,1928. 1,671,802 J. E ITTLESEY IIIIII P Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN E. warr'rrnsnx, orctnvnnann, OHIO.

antenna Application flledJune 25, 1927. Serial No. 201,335.

This invention relates to improvements in airships and moreparticularly, to thattype of airship embodying rigid gas containers, thegeneral objectof the invention being'to provide an extremely simple andinexpensive construction applicable alike to both large.

and small airships and of a nature which will aiford maximum protectionandsafety without sacrificing speed. l

In carrying out my invention, I propose an arrangement wherein aplurality of metal tubes or cylinders,-say twenty, and preferablycorrugated to increase their strength and rigidity, are longitudinallygrouped in abutting, interlocking relation, each of said tubes orcylinders being provided at suitable intervals with partitions orbulkheads forming separate or independent gas receiving chambers orcompartments, the series or group of tubes or cylinders being enclosedwithin a suitablemetal casing of air-tight construction.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Fig. 1 is aside elevation of my improved airship; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view thereof on'the line 2-2, Fig. 3, the showing beingsomewhat conventional for clearness of illustration; Fig. 3 is anenlarged cross sectional view'on the lines 33, Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line M, Fig. 3. i

Theair ship illustrated in the drawings comprises a plurality of rigidtubes or cyl-" inders 1, twenty being here shown, which tubes orcylinders may be of any suitable size, depending upon the liftingcapacity desired, andJof any suitable material, aluminum or aluminumalloys being particularly satisfactory because of their light weight.Said tubes or cylinders are longitudinally arranged or assembled inabutting relation, and are preferably corrugated not only to increasetheir strength and rigidity, but to enable them to positively interlockone with the other, as clearly indicated in Figs. 3

and 4. In the present embodiment of the invention, each tube is providedwith annular corrugations which provide an interlocking arrangement oftubes which effectively prevents longitudinal movement of any one tuberelative to the others.

These tubes or cylinders are of. varying length, the longest one beingat the center of the group and the shortest ones being on the outsidethereof, with the result that a tube or cylinder structure is providedhaving tapering front and rear end substantiall portions, a ording thedesired reduction to air resistance.

Preferably, and as shown, this group of interlocking tubes or cylindersis enclosed within a suitable metal casing 3, of air-tight character, sothat the! spaces between the tubes or cylinders may be filled with. gas,if desired. Said casing is preferably provided with longitudinalcorrugations to not only increase itsstrength and rigidity but to alsoenable it to conform to or interlock with the outside tubes" orcylinders, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. V 1

Each of the tubes or cylinders is provided at suitable intervalsthroughout its length with partitions or bulkheads 5, forming a Seriesof gas receiving chambers or compartments 7. Said chambers orcompartments are separate or indepedent and not intercommunicating, sothat the entire tube structure is not incapacitated should damage occurto one or to a limited number of said chambers or compartments.Preferably, and as shown, the partitions or bulkheads of one tube arearranged in staggered relation to the partitions or bulkheads of theadjacent tubes, all partitions or bulkheads being preferably corrugated.An exceptionally strong and sturdy tube structure is therefore providedand which is, at the same time, relanum or aluminum alloys, and of anysuitable size, being here shown as having its upper corrugated portion12 terminating at substantially the top of the two tubes or cylinders 9and its lower portion 13 extending somedistanoe below said tubes. Ahorizontally disposed partition 15 between said casing portions providesan upper, longitudinally extending chamber 16 and-a lower,longitudinally extending chamber, the latter being divided by ahorizontal partition 17 into upper andlower compartments 18 and 19respectively. The upper chamber 16 and the upper compartment 18 may beused for tie accommodation of. assengers and the crew, While the lowercompartment 19 may be used to house the machiner of the ship,

as will be readily understoo The usual driving motors and propellers 22are mounted at the sides of the casing 11, and the side walls of saidcasing are provided with the usual Windows 23. The ship is also providedwith the usual rudders 25 at the rear. In

the casing 11.

order to provide access for the crew to the rooms 27 at the front andrear ends of the ship, pasageways 28 are provided which lead to saidrooms from the upper chamber 16 of From the foregoing, it will be seenthat I have provided an airship construction which is of exceedinglysimple and inexpensive form which may be usedin the buildin of bothlarge and small airships and witha a construction which afl'o-rdsmaximum safietv, comfortand protection.

While one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it

willbe understood that manydetails of the construction may be varied oromitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

each of saidetubes being provided with annular corrugations so that saidtubes are interlocked one with the other and longitudinal movement ofany one tube relative to the others is prevented, and means formaintaining said tubes in such relatiem.

3.- In anairshi a substantially cylindri- V cal group of rigi gasreceiving, corrugated tubes arranged in longitudinal abuttinginterlockin relation, a casing enclosing said tubes "provided withlongitudinal corrugations for interlocking engagement with theoutertubes of said rou In testimony whereo. I reby afiix m signature.

JOHN E. WHITTLESEY.

